Elmo Saves Christmas

More Christmas Music

Whether you are planning a party for a small, intimate group of friends and family, or a classroom party for preschool or elementary aged children, take the time to savor the joys of the season. Consider what is truly important before allowing yourself to feel stressed over having one more thing to add to your never-ending to-do list, enjoy the love and warmth of those dearest to you…then plan away…and ENJOY! Try one (or a few) of the following ideas to make this Christmas one to remember forever.

When planning a classroom holiday party for younger children (under 10), or if you are working with a limited amount of time, we recommend you divide your activities into "stations". Recruit enough parents/helpers to work at each station, and divide the children into small groups—four to five in each group works best. Have the party guests spend no more than 10-15 minutes at a station, then ring some jingle bells and have everyone rotate. Choose a couple of games, a craft, and then read an age appropriate Christmas book to the group while the snack is being prepared. Always plan two or three extra games or an extra craft just in case you finish faster than anticipated. Check our Christmas Party Games for Kids and Christmas Crafts for some terrific ideas. A visit from St. Nick, (recruit a dad or a grandpa) bearing little gifts or treat bags is always a hit…and a wonderful photo opportunity!

If you are a looking for a way to spread holiday cheer in a classroom---try involving everyone in a Secret Santa activity. This can be a weeklong or a one-day activity. Each person's name is put into a hat, and then each individual randomly draws a different name from the hat. Determine a price range for the "secret" gifts (can be anywhere from $2.00-$20.00, depending on the age and spending power of your group). Gifts should be wrapped and delivered anonymously to the recipient. If the activity is taking place over a weeklong period, you may choose to have the "Secret Santa" reveal him or herself as the "giver" on the final day.